Boot jack device

ABSTRACT

A boot jack is disclosed which is formed from a generally Ushaped frame member having a bight portion which defines a pedal or stirrup member at the base of the frame and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members which extend therefrom. The leg members each have a free end portion and define a space therebetween above the pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot and shoulder means are formed at the free end portions for engaging the boot inserted in the space between the free end portions to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of a wearer.

United States Patent 1 Teague, Jr.

[ 1 May 22,1973

[ 1 BOOT JACK DEVICE [22] Filed: June 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 153,532

[52] US. Cl. ..223/1l6 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47j 51/02 [58] Field of Search ..223/1ll, 113, 114, 223/115, 116, 117; 36/25 Y [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,045 8/1891 Tata ..223/1 14 2,571,447 10/1951 Hilton ..223/1 15 609,603 8/1898 Youngberg & Nord ..223/l16 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 659,576 4/1938 Germany ..223/1 16 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Wi1liam L. Falk Attorney-Curtis, Morris & Safford [57] ABSTRACT A boot jack is disclosed which is formed from a generally U-shaped frame member having a bight portion which defines a pedal or stirrup member at the base of the frame and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members which extend therefrom. The leg members each have a free end portion and define a space therebetween above the pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot and shoulder means are formed at the free end portions for engaging the boot inserted in the space between the free end portions to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of a wearer.

14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 WVE/UTUQS Waltz Dow/n 72/1 05 IL BOOT JACK DEVICE This invention relates to boot jacks and in particular to boot jacks which are adjustable for removing various sized boots or the like from the foot of a wearer.

Boot jacks have previously been proposed in which an elongated flat platform formed of wood or the like and having a notch at one end, is provided with a prop or cleat on its lower surface for supporting the plate at an inclined position to enable the user to insert the rear portion of a boot or shoe in the notch while standing with one foot on the rear portion of the elongated platform to facilitate withdrawal of his other foot from a boot thereon while leaving the boot in the jack held there by the notch. Typically, such devices fit only one size or a very limited range of sizes of boots and shoes and are cumbersome and difficult to store. Further, they are difficult to use since a lever action is created when the boot is removed which tends to urge the user off balance. Even with such shortcomings, boot jacks are desirable, particularly with riding boots or modern fashionable boots and the like used by women. Such boots are often difficult to remove, particularly during cold weather when the boots stiffen and shrink somewhat, so that the assistance provided by boot jacks is often required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device of relatively simple, compact and durable construction for removing boots or shoes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boot jack which is capable of removing various sized boots.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive boot jack device which is readily adjustable to facilitate removal of various sized boots.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a boot jack having a generally U-shaped frame member is provided which has a bight portion providing a pedal or stirrup at the base of the frame and having a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending therefrom. The leg members have free end portions which define a space therebetween and which converge along first generally parallel lines and diverge along second lines at a position further from the bight portion than the first lines, to define a shoulder means for engaging a boot inserted in the space between the free ends, to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer. In use one foot of the wearer is placed in the pedal or stirrup portion of the frame in order to stabilize the frame while the other foot, with a boot, shoe or the like on it, is inserted in a space between the free end portions of the leg members and engaged with the shoulder means defined thereby. The foot is then raised with respect to the shoulder means of the frame member and is removed from the boot while the boot is held in fixed position by its engagement with the shoulder means.

In one embodiment of the present invention the frame is formed of a relatively resilient material and the leg portions naturally diverge from the bight portion with respect to each other. An adjustable interconnecting member is provided which extends between the two leg members for varying the relative divergence of the leg members, thereby to adjust the size of the space between the free end portions so that a variety of users each having different foot sizes may utilize a single boot jack device. In addition, the shoulder portions of the device and the base thereof are coated with a resilient material to provide a non-scuffing surface for protecting delicate and expensive boots.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection'with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boot jack device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the boot jack illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that a boot jack device 10, embodying the present invention, as shown therein, has a generally U-shaped frame 12 including a bight or base portion 14 and a pair of spaced generally upstanding legs 16 extending therefrom. Legs 16 have free end portions 18 which are formed so as to provide shoulder portions 20 that are adapted to engage a boot, shoe or the like inserted in the space 21 defined between the shoulder portions and above bight portion 14 to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer. It is noted that the term boot as used herein is intended to include boots, shoes and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing it is seen that bight portion 14 provides a pedal or stirrup in which one foot 22 of the user (shown in dotted lines) may be inserted to stabilize the boot jack and maintain its position when in use. The other foot 24 of the user is inserted in the space 21 between shoulders 20 and is engaged thereby to hold the boot in a relatively fixed position as the leg of the wearer is raised to remove the foot 24 from the boot thereon. The force applied by foot 22 to stirrup 14 is opposite to and counteracts the force applied by foot 24 to remove the boot. Because of the construction of the device the forces are in substantially vertical alignment so that no bending movement or lever action is applied to the device which would tend to throw the user off balance.

Shoulders 20 are formed by bending or otherwise shaping the free end portions 18 of legs 16 in the manner illustrated in the drawings such that the intermediate portions 26 thereof (FIG. 3) converge towards each other from first lines 28, extending substantially parallel to bight l4, and the end portions 30 diverge away from each other from the lines 32 which are substantially parallel to lines 28. A third bend line may also be provided at 34 at an acute angle to lines 28 and along which the intermediate section 26 of the boot jack may be bent at a greater angle of convergence towards the other leg of the device to provide a sloped shoulder 36 which engages the heel or rear portion 38 of the shoe inserted in the boot jack. In either case the bend or turning of the end portion 18 of leg '16 about line 32 should be rounded sufficiently such that scuffing or rubbing of the boot is avoided. The bend lines 32 are formed so that they diverge at an included angle of between 30 to 35 so as to provide a wedge or straight V type purchase for engaging the heel 38. The lines diverge from the rear 40 of the device to the opening 42 in which the heel is inserted.

Frame member 12 may be formed of any suitable metal or plastic material which has some resilience to it. In one embodiment, it has been found that 0.090 inch aluminum alloy gives satisfactory characteristics.

In constructing the device the legs 16 are formed so as to slightly diverge from the base or bight portion 14 in the manner illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3. An interconnecting bolt 42 is provided between the legs 16, as seen in FIG. 1, which bolt has a head 44 at one end engaging one of the sides 16 of the device and a threaded free end 46 extending through the other side of the device and threadably engaged with a knurled nut 48. The natural resilience of the material of which the device is formed will maintain a constant tension between the bolt 42 and nut 48 so that the relative positions of the two sides 16 may be selected, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. Thus, by adjusting the nut 48 the space 21 between shoulders 30 can be selectively varied.

The end of the bolt 42 adjacent head 44 is squared and a square hole 52 is provided in the leg 16 to be positioned adjacent bolt head 44, to cooperate with the squared end of the bolt so that the bolt is held against rotation during adjustment of opening 21 by rotation of nut 48.

In lieu of the adjustable member 42, a rigid supporting member may be used so that the device has no adjustment feature but the relative positions of leg 16 would still be maintained and constrained against spreading when in use. In this case the device of the present invention would still be operable with a variety of sized boots since the converging shoulder portion 30, as defined by the bend lines 32, will provide the adjustment as smaller boots need merely be placed further back in the purchase defined by shoulders 20.

Bight portion 14 of the frame 12 is formed as a generally arcuate member between legs 16 and is convex towards opening 21. By this arrangement lateral rocking of the boot jack device when in use is avoided. Even when the nut 48 is tightened to its greatest extent, the bight 14 at most will be flat and will not become convex so as to induce rocking of the device. Moreover, in another embodiment of the invention, bight portion 14 is provided with one or more holes 54 therein to permit the bight portion and thus the entire device to be permanently secured to the floor, thereby further enhancing its stability.

Another feature of the invention is that shoulder portion 20 and bight portion 14 may each be coated with a material 60 such as rubber or plastic (e.g. vinyl acetate) which provides a resilient non-scuffing surface to protect delicate and expensive boots.

Accordingly, it is seen that a relatively inexpensive boot jack device is provided for removing boots and the like. The bight portion 14 provides a pedal or stirrup member in which the foot 22 may be inserted so that the forces stabilizing the boot jack device and the force applied by the user to remove the shoe are in substantially direct vertical alignment so that little or no lever effect is created or imposed upon the boot jack device which would tend to throw the user off balance or to operate against the removal of the boot. Further, the boot jack device is relatively light and compact to facilitate ready storage thereof when not in use.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A boot jack comprising a generally U-shaped frame member having a base portion which comprises the bight portion of the U-shaped frame member and which provides a pedal, and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said free end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said shoulder means diverging with respect to each other to define a generally V shaped notch in which a boot is engaged when inserted in said space; said free end portions of said leg members converging from first generally parallel bend lines and diverging from second bend lines at a position further from said bight portion than said first bend lines to define said shoulder means and space therebetween; said second bend lines being located substantially parallel to said first bend lines and said leg portions further converging along third bend lines intermediate saidfirst and second bend lines, said third bend lines being at an acute angle to said first lines.

2. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said second bend lines lie in the same plane.

3. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 including means interconnecting said leg portions for maintaining said leg portions in a relatively fixed location with respect to each other.

4. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member is formed of a relatively resilient material and said leg portions diverge from said base portion with respect to one another.

5. A boot jack as defined in claim 4 including means interconnecting said leg portions for varying their relative divergence thereby to adjust the size of said space between said free end portions.

6. A boot jack as defined in claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a threaded bolt extending between said leg portions and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt.

7. A boot jack as defined in claim 6 wherein said base portion is slightly arcuate and presents generally convex surfaces to said space.

8. A boot jack as defined in claim 7 wherein said divergence varying means comprises a threaded bolt extending between and engaging said leg portions, and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt.

9. A boot jack comprising a frame member having a base portion which provides a pedal and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending therefrom, said leg member each having a free end portion and defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said free end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said frame member being formed of a relatively resilient material and said base portion being slightly arcuate and presenting a generally convex surface to said space whereby said leg portions diverge from said base portion with respect to one another; and means comprising a threaded bolt extending between said leg portions and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt for varying the relative divergence between said legs, thereby to permit adjustment of the size of said space between said free end portions.

10. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoulder means are coated with a resilient material.

11. A boot jack as defined in claim wherein said bight portion is coated with a resilient material.

12. A boot jack comprising a single piece U-shaped frame member having a base portion which comprises the bight portion of the U-shaped frame member and which provides a pedal, and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said free end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said shoulder means diverging with respect to each other to define a generally V shaped notch in which a boot is engaged when inserted in said space; said free end portions of said leg members converging from first generally parallel bend lines and diverging from second bend lines at a position further from said bight portion than said first bend lines to define said shoulder means and space therebetween; said second bend lines diverging with respect to each other to define said V" shaped notch.

13. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said second bend lines diverge with respect to each other to define said V" shaped notch.

14. A boot jack comprising a frame member formed of a resilient material in a single piece yoke construction and having a base portion which provides a pedal and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending vertically upwardly from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion located directly above said pedal and defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, said free end portions diverging from said pedal with respect to one another and being bent in a predetermined configuration to define a shoulder means for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, and a means operatively connected to each of said leg portions for varying their relative divergence, thereby to adjust the size of said space between said shoulder means. 

1. A boot jack comprising a generally U-shaped frame member having a base portion which comprises the bight portion of the Ushaped frame member and which provides a pedal, and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said freE end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said shoulder means diverging with respect to each other to define a generally ''''V'''' shaped notch in which a boot is engaged when inserted in said space; said free end portions of said leg members converging from first generally parallel bend lines and diverging from second bend lines at a position further from said bight portion than said first bend lines to define said shoulder means and space therebetween; said second bend lines being located substantially parallel to said first bend lines and said leg portions further converging along third bend lines intermediate said first and second bend lines, said third bend lines being at an acute angle to said first lines.
 2. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said second bend lines lie in the same plane.
 3. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 including means interconnecting said leg portions for maintaining said leg portions in a relatively fixed location with respect to each other.
 4. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member is formed of a relatively resilient material and said leg portions diverge from said base portion with respect to one another.
 5. A boot jack as defined in claim 4 including means interconnecting said leg portions for varying their relative divergence thereby to adjust the size of said space between said free end portions.
 6. A boot jack as defined in claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a threaded bolt extending between said leg portions and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt.
 7. A boot jack as defined in claim 6 wherein said base portion is slightly arcuate and presents generally convex surfaces to said space.
 8. A boot jack as defined in claim 7 wherein said divergence varying means comprises a threaded bolt extending between and engaging said leg portions, and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt.
 9. A boot jack comprising a frame member having a base portion which provides a pedal and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending therefrom, said leg member each having a free end portion and defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said free end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said frame member being formed of a relatively resilient material and said base portion being slightly arcuate and presenting a generally convex surface to said space whereby said leg portions diverge from said base portion with respect to one another; and means comprising a threaded bolt extending between said leg portions and a nut threadedly engaged with the free end of said bolt for varying the relative divergence between said legs, thereby to permit adjustment of the size of said space between said free end portions.
 10. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoulder means are coated with a resilient material.
 11. A boot jack as defined in claim 10 wherein said bight portion is coated with a resilient material.
 12. A boot jack comprising a single piece U-shaped frame member having a base portion which comprises the bight portion of the U-shaped frame member and which provides a pedal, and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, and shoulder means at each of said free end portions for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, said shoulder means diverging with respect to each other to define a generally ''''V'''' shaped notch in which a boot is engaged when inserted in said space; said free end portions of said leg members converging from first generally parallel bend lineS and diverging from second bend lines at a position further from said bight portion than said first bend lines to define said shoulder means and space therebetween; said second bend lines diverging with respect to each other to define said ''''V'''' shaped notch.
 13. A boot jack as defined in claim 1 wherein said second bend lines diverge with respect to each other to define said ''''V'''' shaped notch.
 14. A boot jack comprising a frame member formed of a resilient material in a single piece yoke construction and having a base portion which provides a pedal and a pair of spaced generally upstanding leg members extending vertically upwardly from said pedal, said leg members each having a free end portion located directly above said pedal and defining a space therebetween above said pedal for receiving the rear portion of a boot, said free end portions diverging from said pedal with respect to one another and being bent in a predetermined configuration to define a shoulder means for engaging a boot inserted in said space to facilitate removal of the boot from the foot of the wearer, and a means operatively connected to each of said leg portions for varying their relative divergence, thereby to adjust the size of said space between said shoulder means. 